Shedding mechanism for looms



(No Model.)

A. D. BMBRY. 7SILIIEHDING 'MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

No. 503,460. Patented Aug. 15, 189s.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 2,

A. D. EMBRY.

SHEDDING MECHANISM POR Looms. No. 503,460. Patented Aug.l5, 1893.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet. 3. A. D EMERY. SHEDDING MEGHANISM FOR LOMS.

Patented Aug.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4. A. D. EMERY.

SHEDDING MBHANISM FOR LOOMS. No. 503,460. Patented Aug'. 15, 1893.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5; A. D. EMERY. SHEDDING MEGHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1893.

(No Mode-1.) -e sheets-sheet e.

A. D. EMERY.

SHEDDING MEGHANISM FOR LOOMS. N0.503,460. Patented Aug. 415, 1893.

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.Q m In( 0;, 0l 0f l0lo mf v \\\\\\\v Wwm, mvxx UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE,

ABRAM D. EMERY, OF TAUN TON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR LOONIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,460, dated August 15, 1893.

Application led December 17,1890. Renewed December 1. 1892. Serial No. l1:53,(58'7. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAM D. EMERY, of Taunton, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Shedding Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a speci fication.

The invention relates to shedding mechanism for forming from a single set of chain threads two separate sheds, the inner or adjacent sides of which are composed of groups of warp threads occupying nearly parallel planes and extending through the reed at approximately right angles, while their outer sides are composed of groups ot' warp threads occupying diagonal planes, the motions of the harnesses being such that at each successive shedding the inner groups of warp threads are moved outwardly, respectively in oppo" site directions from their vertical to their iaterally extended positions, while the outer groups are moved inwardly from their eX- tended to their vertical positions.

The invention includes improvements applicable to other forms of shedding mechanism as well as to the shedding mechanism referred to. The said improvements embrace the employment of a harness-driving cam located upon the outside of the loom frame, Where the cam and the adjustable devices for transmitting the motions for operating the harnesses are easy of access; and also embrace manually-operative devices for releasing the harnesses from their driving mechanism, and thus permittingr them to yield to the intiuence of the tension devices, which, by their strain upon the warp threads When the harnesses are released, draw all the warp threads into approximately parallel planes, and thus facilitate access to the Warp threads when occasion arises for piecing up broken ends. The harnesses are reciprocated by means of oscillating drums, herein called driving drums, which are provided with faces of different radius, to which straps fastened to the harnesses are appropriately connected.

Motion to operate the harnesses is transmitted from the harness cam by means of an endwise-reciprocatin g cam bar, provided near one end With a cam pin for engaging the cam groove, and at its opposite end engaging a crank pin, radially adjustable upon a crank arm, which may either be affixed to a rock shaft upon which driving drums are loosely mounted, or to an intermediate shaft, upon which is mounted a toothed segment, meshing into the teeth of a pinion loosely mounted upon a rock shaft, to which driving drums are rigidlyaflixed; a manually-operated clutch being in either case employed to compel the said drums to partake of the motions of the continuously-rocking member of the han ness-driving mechanism. To said clutch is attached a cord, leading along the rear and around one side of the loom, so as to be within convenient reach of the hand of the operator, who, by pulling the cord, may at any time disengage the clutch, and thus break the connection by which the reciprocating movements are imparted to the harnesses. In looms in which only two harnesses are employed, with only one rock shaft to operate them, only one clutch is required. In looms in which two or more rock shafts are employed to operate the harnesses, each rock shaft may be provided with a manually-operative clutch. In any case, when the connection is broken by disengaging the clutch, the harnesses are released, and lett free to yield to the effect of the strain upon them exerted by the warp threads, under the influence of the tension devices acting upon the Warp.

The accompanying' drawings of the shedding mechanism and so much of the adjacent portions of the loom as sufces to illustrate the construction and mode of operation of the improvements are as follows:

Figure l is a side elevation illustrating a loom employing harness-releasing mechanism in combination with four harnesses which, by means of driving, stretching and guide rollers, are made to reciprocate in parallel planes in close proximityto each other, and to thereby form a succession of double sheds by transposing the two groups of laterallyextended Warp threads into closely approximate vertical planes, while transposing the other two groups of warp threads from their vertical positions to their laterally extended positions; also illustrating the delivery of the warp from a single warp roll across two whip rollers, geared to each other, for equalizing the tension upon all the groups of warp threads; and

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showing the harness cam mounted outside the v loom frame upon the overhanging end of a counter-shaft making half a revolution to each beat of the lay. Fig. 2 is a top view of a portion of the four-harness loom shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the said four-harness loom, taken through the plane indicated by the dotted line .fr on Fig. 2. Fig. et is a diagram illustrating one of the sheddings. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the positions into which the warp threads move if the harnesses are released while the warp threads occupy the positions in which they are represented in Fig. 4c. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the shedding which succeeds that shown in Fig. 4t. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the positions assumed by the warp `threads if the harnesses are released while in the positions which they are represented as occupying in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side elevation illustrating the application of the harness-releasing mechanism to a loom employing two harnesses, each of the cords of which is provided with two heddle eyes for forming the warp threads delivered from a single warp roll across a single whip roller into a succession of double sheds, by vibrating the two pairs of groups of warp threads in parallel planes which partially interlap each other; also illustrating a modification in the harness-driving mechanism, which consists in loosely mounting the harness-driving drums upon a rock shaft provided with a crank to which motion is transmitted directly from the harness cam. Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating the positions assumed by the warp threads of the loom shown in Fig. 8 when the harnesses are released. Fig. 'l0 is an axial section of a portion of the harnessdriving rock-shaft, illustrating the modification which consists in loosely mounting thereon the harness-driving drums.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l represents part of the side frame of a loom for weaving into two separate fabrics the warp delivered from a single Warp roll, h, across two whip rollers, c, d, the hubs, c and d', of which are geared together so that the two whip rollers, in rocking upon their axes, necessarily rock in opposite directions. The whip roller trunnions, c2 and cl2, are seated respectively in the opposite ends of cross arms (one of which, c, is shown in Fig. l), which cross arms are each provided with trunnions, one of which, e', is also shown in Fig. l. The trunnions of the cross arms, e, are journaled in the frame of the loom, and constitute a common axis upon which both whi p rollers rock. The trunnior. e has affixed to it a radius arm, e2, the extremity of which has attached to it a cord,

. e3, to which is. connected a weight or spring by the influence of which the warp threads are held under tension,-the trunnion e being given by the weight or spring a tendency to rock in the direction indicated by t-he a1'- row in Fig. l. The warp threads are led upward from the inner bars of the whip rollers', across and between the systems of lease rods,

g g, and are thereby divided into the four equal groups g, 92,93, and g4. These groups, controlled by heddle eyes, h, are formed into a succession of double sheds, the adjacent sides of which occupy substantially parallel vertical positions, and the outer sides of which occupy diagonal positions, as shown in Fig. l.

In the act of forming the successive sheds, the groups of threads occupying vertical positions are pulled outwardly in opposite directions from each other, and are thus made to rock upward the inner bar of the whip roller, around which they extend. As the two whip rollers are geared together, the rocking upward of the inner bar of one whip roller isv necessarily accompanied by the rocking downward of the inner bar of the other whip roller, which is thus made to take up the slack of those of the two groups of w-arp threads, which, in forming the sheds, are moved from their laterally-extended positions to their vertical positions. The tendency of the cross arms, e, to roclr,in obedience to theintlnence of the spring or weight acting upon the radius arm e2, is resisted by the pull of the warp threads on the inner bars of the whip rollers.

When the necessity arises for piecing up a broken end, it is desirable to have all the warp threads brought into substantially the same plane, and in accomplishing this result by the present invention, the extended groups of warp threads are freed from the strain to which they are subjected when the shed is formed, and the cross arms, c, are thus permitted to yield to the influence of the spring or weight acting upon the radius arm c2, which swings the upper ends of the cross arms, e, inward, and the lower ends outward, thus changing the angular relation of the cross arms, c, with that one of the whip rollers around the inner bar of which the groups of vertical warp threads extend. As the whip rollers are geared together, this change of angular relation of the cross arms, e, with one whip roller necessarily so rocks the other whip roller upon its axis as to carry its inner end downward until the previously-extended warp threads are brought into vertical positions. The two whip rollers are thus cqualizing rollers, by the operation of which all the groups of warp threads are subjected to substantially the same degree of tension, as described in pending application, Serial No. 312,828, tiled May 3l, 1889.'

In the organization represented in Figs. l and 3, the four vgroups of warp threads are respectively controlled by four harn esses, 71,3', ls, Z. The harnesses are sustained by pairs of flexible straps connecting them with driving and stretching drums respectively mounted upon driving shafts in the rear, and upon stretching shafts on the front of the loom.

The desired proximity of the harnesses to each other is secured by means of guide rolleers suitably acting upon certain of the ilexible straps. As will be seen on referring to IOO Fig. 3, which shows one of each pair of straps, the strap fi', fastened to the rear of the harness i, is led over the guide roller i2, and fastened to the curved surface of the driving drum t3. The strap if, fastened to the front of the harness r,is led over the guide roller t, and fastened to the curved surface of the stretching drum di. The strap j', fastened to the rear of the harness j, extends horizontally therefrom, and is fastened to the curved surface of the driving drum y2. The strap jg, fastened to the front of the harnessj, extends horizontally forward therefrom, and is fastened to the curved surface of the stretching drum ,7"1. The driving drum Z3 and the stretching drum t are respectively of slightly greater diameter than the drums t7'2 and f, for the reason that therangeof reciprocating movement of the harnessjis required to be slightly shorter than that of the harness t'. The strap 7a', fastened to the rear of the harness 7a, eX- tends horizontally therefrom, and is fastened to the curved surface of the driving drum Zt?. The strap its, fastened to the front of the harness Zt, extends horizontally forward therefrom, and is fastened to the curved surface of the stretching drum 7a4. The strap Z, fastened to the rear of the harness Z, is led under the guide roller, Z2, and fastened to the curved surface of the driving drum Z3. The strap Z4, fastened to the front of the harness Z, extends forward therefrom, and is led under the guide roller Z5, and fastened to the curved surface of the stretching drum ZG.

The driving drum Zt'2 and the stretching drum 71:4 are respectively of slightly greater diameter than the driving drum Z3 and the stretching drum ZG. The diameter of the driving drum k2 and the stretching drum 7x34 is also slightly less than the diameterof the driving and stretching drums i3 and i6. These differences of diameter enable the driving drums, when rocked through a prescribed number of degrees, to simultaneously im partthe required different ranges of motion to the harnesses, respectively.

In the organization represented in Fig. l, the driving drums are affixed to rock shafts, upon Which constantly-oscillating pinions are loosely mounted. n

Motion to operate the harnesses is derived from the harness cam, m, mounted at the side of the loom upon the counter shaft m,wliich makes half a revolution to each beat of the lay. The cam bar, m2, having its lower end hifurcated and straddling the counter shaft 7n', is provided with the cam pin m3, engaging the cam groove m4 in the face of the cam m. At its upper end the cam bar is pivoted upon a crank pin, m5, projecting outwardly from the head of a screw bolt inserted loosely through a radial slot in the crank arm, m, and having applied to it the jam nuts m7 mi, by means of which the crank pin is rigidly secured in the position to which it may have been adjusted upon the crank arm mi. In the organization represented in Fig. l the crank arm, m6, is alnxed to the hub of a toothed segment, n, pivoted upon the stud, n', and meshing With the teeth of. the pinion n2, loosely mounted upon the lower harness-driving rock-shaf t, n3. The pinion n2 meshes with the pinion n4, loosely mounted upon the upper harness-driving rock-shaft 72,5. Each of the harness-drivin g rock-shafts, n3 and n, has affixed to it a collar, o, having a chambered lug, o', in which there is seated a spring bar o2, one end of which, under the infiuence of an eXpan ding spring, o3, springs outward, and by engaging a cavity formed in the face of the adjacent loose pinion, transmits the rocking motion of said pinion to its rock shaft, and hence to the driving drums which are affixed to such rock-shaft. At its opposite end the spring bar o2 has attached to it a cord, o4, which is led around the sheave o, and fastened at the side of the loom, so as to be within the convenient reach of the Operator. rlhe spring bar o2 is essentially a clutch, which in its normal position preserves the continuity of the harness-driving mechanism, but Which is capable of manual removal from its normal position; and it Will be perceived that such removal breaks the continuity of the harnessdriving mechanism, and thus releases the harnesses to the controlling induence of the teusion devices acting' upon the warp. 1f the harnesses are thus released at a time when the Warp threads occupy the shedding position symbolically represented in Fig. rt, the groups of Warp threads which are in their extended positions arepermitted to be drawn by the tension devices into their vertical positions, carrying with them the harnesses which have previously controlled them, so that the threads and harnesses are made to occupy the positions in which they are symbolically represented in Fie. 5. Similarly, if the harnesses are released at the time when the Warp threads occupy the, shedding positions symbolically represented in Fig. 6, the pull of the tension devices carries the threads and harnesses into the positions in which they are symbolically represented iu Fig. 7, In either case, the Warp threads are all brought into approximately vertical positions, which facilitates access to them when occasion arises for piecing up a broken end.

In the organization represented in Fig. S, the Warp threads, supplied from a single warp roll,p, are led over a single whip rollelgp', and divided by the two systems of lease rods, q q, into four equal groups, q', q2, Q3, g1, and formed into successive double sheds by the reciprocating movements of two harnesses, r and s, the cords of which are each provided with two eyes, by means of which the tWo pairs of groups of Warp threads are vibrated respectively in parallel planes, which partially interlap each other, as described in pending application, Serial No. 366,746, filed October 1, 1890.

The harnesses, fr, and s, are sustained by pairs of straps connecting them respectively IOO ' the side of the loom.

with driving drums and stretching drums. One set of these straps is shown in Fig. 8, on referring t0 which it will be seen that the rear side of the upper harness, fr', is connected by a strap r', with the curved surface, r2, of the driving drum, t. The front side of the harness r is connected by the strap, r3, With the curved surface, r4, of the stretching drum u. The rear side of the harness s has affixed to it the strap s', which is led over the guide roller, s2, and connected to the curved surface s3, of the driving drum fu. The front side of the harness s has connected toV it the strap s4, which is led over the guide roller S5, and connected with the curved surface, s6, of the stretching drum, fw. As the lower harness, s, is required t0 have a greater range of motion than that of the harness fr, the curved surfaces of the driving and stretching drums, to which the straps s and s4 are respectively connected, have a greater radius than that of the curved surfaces with which the straps o" and r3 are respectively connected. The pairs of driving drums are in this case afu fixed to a hollow shaft, T', which is loosely mounted upon the rock-shaft T. One pair of the driving drums and a portion of the hollow shaft T are shown in section in Fig. lO. In this case, when the harnesses are released from their driving mechanism, the downward pull of the tension device carries the two pairs of groups of Warp threads, respectively, into planes extending from the tension device to the points of formation of the two fabrics (as illustrated in Fig. 9), which facilitates access to the Warp threads, either'fromV the VfrontV or the rear of the loom, as the case may be, Whenever the necessity arises for piecing up a broken end.

Fig. 10, in addition toillustratingthe modification in the harness-driving mechanism, which consists in mounting the driving drums loosely upon the rock shaft which serves as their axis, also illustrates the modification which consists in pivotally connecting the cam bar, m2, to a crank arm affixed to said rockshaft.

As will be observed on reference to Fig. 8, the harness cam, m, is adj ustably bolted to the face of a pinion, M, mounted upon the end of the counter-shaft m', which overhangs The bifurcated lower end of the cam bar m22 straddles the countershaft m', and is stayed in position thereon by means of a collar, M, affixed to the extreme end of the counter-shaft mf. The cog-Wheel, M, is driven by the pinion IVI?, affixed to the prime shaft, M3, of the loom. The cam bar is provided with the usual cam-pin, m3, for engaging the cam groove, m4. At its upper end, the ca m bar is pivoted upon the crank pin m55, which is adjustably secured to the crank arm m66, aflixed to the rock shaft T, upon which the driving drums t, c, are loosely mounted. In this case, the transmission of motion from the constantly-rockingshaftT to the driving d rulnsif, c, is provided for by means of a collar, O7, affixed to the rock-shaft T, and having a chambered lug, O8, in which there is seated a spring bar, Of', one end of which, under the inuence of an expanding spring, O10, springs outward, and by engaging a cavity formed in the adjacent face of the driving drum imparts the rocking motion of the driving drum T. The other end of the spring bar O9 has attached to it the cord O4, which is led around the sheave, O5, and fastened to the side of the loom, so as tobe within convenient reach Vof the operator, Who, by pulling the cord O4,

can Withdraw the spring bar O9 from its cavity in the face of th'e driving drum if, and thus break the continuity of the harnessdriving mechanism. In this case, as in the case of the organization shown in Fig. l, such breaking of the continuity of the harnessdriving mechanism leaves the harnesses free to yield to the resultant effect of the action of the tension devices upon the Warp threads. By

such action the warp threads are pulledinto Y Ytheir median positions, respectively.

What is claimed as the invention is- In loom mechanism for forming double sheds, the combination, as herein set forth, of harness mechanism for forming sheds, harness driving mechanism directly connected thereto, manually detachable clutch mechanism for disengaging the harness mechanism at will, and equalizing tension devices for subjecting all the groups of Warp threads to the same degree of tension whereby on the detachment` of the clutch mechanism the Warp threads are brought into parallelism, substantially as described.

ABRAM D. EMERY.

Vitnesses:

T. J. CUNNINGHAM, J. L. BELFLER.

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